Health Professions in the News

Getting Into Medical School Is Becoming Harder

U.S. News and World Report (October 31, 2017)

Soaring applications to medical school are making it more difficult for candidates to get accepted. Between 2006 and 2016, the number of applicants to U.S. medical schools increased by more than 35 percent, rising from 39,108 to 53,042, according to Association of American Medical Colleges admissions data. Read the full story here.

Millennials Embrace Nursing Profession — Just In Time To Replace Baby Boomers

California Healthline (October 27, 2017)

The days are long past when the only career doors that readily opened to young women were those marked teacher, secretary or nurse. Yet young adults who are part of the millennial generation are nearly twice as likely as baby boomers were to choose the nursing profession, according to a recent study. These young people, born between 1982 and 2000, are also 60 percent more likely to become registered nurses than the Gen X’ers who were born between 1965 and 1981. Read the full story here.

Training New Doctors Right Where They’re Needed

California Healthline (October 9, 2017)

Dr. Olga Meave didn’t mind the dry, 105-degree heat that scorched this Central Valley city on a recent afternoon. Meave’s sense of familiarity with the region and its residents drew her to an ambitious program in Bakersfield whose goal is to train and retain doctors in medically underserved areas. She is now in her third and final year of the Rio Bravo Family Medicine Residency Program, operated by Clinica Sierra Vista, a chain of more than 30 clinics, mostly in the Central Valley. Read the full story here.

Med Schools Adding Integrative Medicine Courses

Health eCareers (September 5, 2017)

Aspiring physicians expect to sit in medical school courses that focus on anatomy and biochemistry. But at many schools, they can also learn about unconventional treatment options like acupuncture, hypnosis and herbal remedies in courses on what's known as integrative medicine.

Experts say it's important for prospective medical students to understand what integrative medicine is, why it's controversial and how proponents of the practice are challenging norms in the medical profession. Read the full story here.

New Commission Plans To Address State Health Care Worker Shortage

California Healthline (August 28, 2017)

California faces a shortfall of primary care doctors and other health care providers, and the gap is expected to widen over time. A new commission unveiled this week will spend the next year investigating the problem and drafting potential solutions. The 24-member California Future Health Workforce Commission will focus on primary care, aging and mental health. Its members include politicians, doctors, educators, labor leaders and others. Read the full story here.

UC San Diego Launches New Centers for Integrative Health

UC San Diego (August 17, 2017)

On Saturday, August 19, UC San Diego will debut its new Centers for Integrative Health with a public conference featuring TED talk-style presentations by noted local scientists, doctors and experts on integrative medicine, mindfulness, integrative nutrition, integrative research and integrative education. Read the full story here.

Epic Move: UC San Diego Health Transitions to Cloud Technology

UC San Diego (August 7, 2017)

UC San Diego Health has moved its electronic medical records (EMR) system to the cloud. The move to an Epic-hosted cloud environment is part of a long-term strategy to shift away from traditional data centers to a less expensive, more reliable and secure repository for patients’ medical records. Read the full story here.

Infographic: Registered Nursing by the Numbers

Health eCareers (July 26, 2017)

What are the most in-demand registered nurse specialties according to healthcare employers? Where do RNs work? How much do RNs make? And are they happy? Find out in our everything RN infographic. Read the full story here.

Nursing Specialists Can Earn More Than Some Doctors

U.S. News and World Report (July 17, 2017)

Before college, Brittany Sherwood thought she would study a pre-med major, go to medical school and become a doctor. "During my first semester of college I was planning on doing pre-med, but I got a 'B' in Bio 101, and I started doing a little research and realized there was a different way to end up in a similar place," says the now-27-year-old who went to Florida State University to earn her bachelor's degree. Read the full story here.

How to Attend Medical School for Free

U.S. News and World Report (July 13, 2017)

It's not uncommon for medical school graduates to leave school with hundreds of thousands in student loan debt. Last year, among U.S. medical school graduates who borrowed, the median debt burden was $190,000, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. While the idea of graduating medical school debt-free may seem impossible, a few medical students have the privilege of receiving a free medical education, either because they attend a tuition-free medical school or because they receive a hefty sum of scholarship money. Read the full story here.

Student Health Bills On The Move; Start Time, Transportation Cola And Reserve Cap Up Next Week

California School Boards Association (July 5, 2017)

After approval in the Senate Education Committee last week, Assembly Bill 834 (O’Donnell, D-Long Beach) today passed the Senate Health Committee and will be heard by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The bill would establish an Office of School-Based Health Programs within the California Department of Education to help administer and support school-based health programs operated by public schools. If passed, this newly created office would help support local education agencies with delivery of school-based health services (as well as processing of Medi-Cal reimbursement for those services), and improve coordination between school districts, county offices of education and the Department of Health Care Services. CSBA supports the bill. Read the full story here.

$20 Million On The Way For Clinics That Serve California’s Poor

California Healthline (June 19, 2017)

California State Treasurer John Chiang plans today to announce grants totaling $20 million for community clinics that serve low-income and vulnerable Californians. Chiang’s office called the grants an “emergency” response to possible cuts in federal health care spending being contemplated in Washington. Read the full story here.

Data Points: Physician shortage projected to grow

Modern Healthcare (June 17, 2017)

There continues to be concern that the U.S. just doesn't have enough doctors. The Association of American Medical Colleges earlier this year predicted that physician demand will continue to outpace supply. It's the third year in a row that AAMC has made the assessment. The group projects that the shortage will total 34,600 to 88,000 physicians by 2025. Read the full story here.

Medi-Cal Patients Flocking To ERs More Than Before ACA

California Healthline (June 12, 2017)

Medi-Cal patients are swamping California emergency rooms in greater numbers than they did before the Affordable Care Act took effect, despite predictions that the health law would ease the burden on ERs. Emergency room visits by people on Medi-Cal rose 75 percent over five years, from 800,000 in the first quarter of 2012 to 1.4 million in the last quarter of 2016, according to data recently released by the state’s Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development. Read the full story here.

Traveling Dentist Program Launched To Bring Proper Care To Kids

California Healthline (May 2, 2017)

"The data that we started off with showed utilization rates were about 20 percent for the Denti-Cal population," Sacramento County Health Officer Olivia Kasirye says. She hopes to increase the percentage of people who receive dental care by 5 percent each year for the next two years. Read the full story here.

State Grants Will Support Nursing Education Programs

UCI News (April 27, 2017)

The Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing was recently awarded grants for $240,000 and $80,000 through the Song-Brown Health Care Workforce Training Act of the California Office of Statewide Health Planning & Development. Both are designed to bolster programs aimed at educating nurses to serve in areas of unmet need and to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in the healthcare professions. Read the full story here.

Grant Provides Path to Nursing for American Indian Students at Cal State San Marcos

Daily Nurse (April 21, 2017)

Five American Indian students are attending the California State University (Cal State) San Marcos School of Nursing through a recently awarded grant called Graduating American Indians into Nursing (GAIN). The grant covers tuition, books, fees, and a stipend of $1,500 per month for each student. Read the full story here.

WPVI-TV (April 9, 2017)

It's the medical training version of the old joke about getting to Carnegie Hall - "practice, practice, practice." Technology has changed the way we learn on every level of schooling. At Drexel University's College of Nursing and Health Professions in Philadelphia, a new system is giving some medical pros in-training practical experience, through a unique collection of 'patients.' Read the full story here.

‘Eldercare May Be The New Growth Sector’ In A Rapidly Changing Labour Market

North Bay Nugget (April 4, 2017)

Nipissing District will experience significant aging over the next three decades, a new report indicates. The seventh installment of Northern Projections: Human Capital Series projects seniors will account for 30 per cent of the population by 2041, up from 18 per cent in 2013. Working-age people (20-64) will account for about half the population, down from 61 per cent in 2013. Read the full story here.

How This California Student Was Offered $1 Million In Financial Aid – Without A Perfect SAT Or GPA

The Mercury News (March 24, 2017)

Like most middle-class parents, Kristin Skibo and her husband thought about putting their three children through college and took several deep breaths. Their eldest, Josh Barri, faces some learning challenges and for a variety of reasons a small private university seemed like the best fit. But when the JSerra Catholic High School senior started opening college acceptance letters he was shocked – and thrilled. Read the full story here.

Here’s What Kaiser Permanente is Planning for its Pasadena Medical School

Pasadena Star News (March 21, 2017)

Kaiser Permanente is moving forward with plans to replace an old Pasadena office building and parking lot with a state of the art, 80,000 square foot School of Medicine. Early renderings of the school, located at 94 S. Los Robles Ave, show a four-story, contemporary building with floor-to-ceiling windows on the first floor, an open rooftop for students and high tech classrooms. Read the full story here.

Dentistry Advocates Aim To Fill Medicare Gaps

California Healthline (March 17, 2017)

Carolyn Thompson’s tight-lipped smile hides a health care problem the 81-year-old retired nurse can’t afford to correct and Medicare won’t pay for. She needs dentures. Her missing bottom teeth make chewing difficult, so she avoids hard fruits and foods that provide valuable nutrients. Thompson hasn’t seen a dentist in years, even though there’s one where she lives, in the Fair Haven retirement community here. Read the full story here.

University Of California, Stanford Partner On Research To Improve Health In California And Nationwide

UC Davis School of Medicine (March 7, 2017)

The University of California Biomedical Research Acceleration, Integration, and Development program (UC BRAID) and Stanford University have formed an alliance to combine resources and develop a coordinated approach to research targeting the health of Californians – a partnership that can serve as a model for collaborations throughout the country. Read the full story here.

San Bernardino County Awards Colton Medical School a $10 Million Contract

San Bernardino County Sun (March 7, 2017)

San Bernardino County Supervisors on Tuesday approved, without discussion, a $10 million, five-year agreement to support the effort for a new medical school in Colton. The California University of Science and Medicine’s School of Medicine is expected to open in summer 2018 inside temporary headquarters in San Bernardino and then move to its permanent home just north of Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, the county hospital in Colton, said Dr. Dev GnanaDev, founder, president and CEO of CalMed. Read the full story here.

New California Laws Effective in 2017

Leavitt Group (March 20, 2017)

With the all the political changes at the Federal level since last November 8th, this year’s update on new California laws kind of got lost in the shuffle. So here, better late than never, is a list and brief summary of selected California bills that may be of interest to employers. Most of these are in the areas of Employment, Insurance and Health Benefits. Most bills are effective January 1, 2017; other effective dates are noted, where applicable. Read the story here.

Fresno State's Castro Says Talk Of New Valley Medical School Should Include UC

Valley Public Radio (February 27, 2017)

Fresno State President Joseph Castro says he wants to see any new effort to build a public medical school in the San Joaquin Valley be a collaboration between the UC and CSU systems. Last month, Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula introduced a bill in Sacramento that would authorize a new medical school at Fresno State. But the state’s master plan for higher education calls for medical schools to be the domain only of the University of California. Read the full story here.

Not Your Grandfather’s Med School: Changes Trending In Med Ed

AMA Wire (February 7, 2017)

After many decades that saw little change in how medicine is taught, medical schools are rethinking nearly every facet of physician training. A report analyzes the efforts to better prepare the physicians of the future and presents trends in medical school curricula. These include earlier exposure to patient care, growing focus on the science of health systems, more team-based learning opportunities, shorter times to completion and greater emphasis on new technology. Read the full story here.

University of California, Irvine Announces Newly Approved Sue and Bill Gross School of Nursing

Daily Nurse (February 6, 2017)

After recent approval from the University of California Board of Regents, the University of California, Irvine (UCI) has announced their new Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing. UCI’s nursing school is now the fourth nursing school in the UC system and their newly achieved school status is well deserved as the nursing program celebrates 10 years of educating future nurses. Read the full story here.

The Atlantic (February 3, 2016)

Assemblyman Arambula Proposes Medical School for Fresno State

The Fresno Bee (January 24, 2017)

Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula, D-Fresno, introduced legislation Monday to establish a medical school at Fresno State, which if approved by lawmakers would be the first in the state not at a University of California campus. Arambula voiced interest in Fresno State as a site for a medical school at a meeting in September to discuss health-care needs. Historically, California has relied on the UC system for medical education, but Arambula said the state has allowed other advanced degrees to be offered at state universities such as California State University, Fresno. He expressed concern over the slow progress being made to establish a medical school at UC Merced. Read the full story here.

What Are the Working Conditions of a Nurse?

Health eCareers (January 13, 2017)

Working conditions nurses vary widely depending on a variety of factors, including setting, type of degree, specialization and even the emotional state of the person. In general, nursing is a demanding job, both physically and emotionally, and it can carry serious consequences for those who are unprepared. Read the full story here.

17 New California Laws You Should Know In 2017

KCRA (January 3, 2017)

As we near the end of 2016, 898 new laws will go into effect in California in 2017 ranging from cellphone use while driving to gun control to human trafficking to booze at hair salons. Check out these 17 laws that could affect you in the new year. Read the full story here.

Alumna Donates $7 Million to California State University, LA to Name School of Nursing

Daily Nurse (January 3, 2017)

California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA) recently received a $7 million gift to name the Patricia A. Chin School of Nursing and establish the Chin Family Institute for Nursing. Dr. Patricia Chin became a strong supporter of the university after earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the university in 1980 and 1984 respectively. She later served as director of the Cal State LA School of Nursing and was named emerita faculty upon her retirement. Read the full story here.

Ucla Nursing School Receives $2.6m Grant To Aid Disadvantaged Students

UCLA Newsroom (December 12, 2016)

The UCLA School of Nursing has been awarded a $2.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health Resources and Administration to support minority and disadvantaged students in both the master's entry clinical nurse program and the advanced practice nursing program. Read the full story here.

New Medical School To Be Constructed In Clovis

Visalia Times-Delta (November 23, 2016)

California Health Sciences University, a private university in Clovis, will open a new medical school — the first of its kind in the San Joaquin Valley — as soon as fall 2019. CHSU plans to offer a College of Osteopathic Medicine, in addition to the university’s existing College of Pharmacy. Read the full story here.

California's Community College 4-Year Degree Program May Expand

NBC San Diego (November 2, 2016)

More California community colleges may soon offer four-year degrees programs, even in highly competitive fields like nursing or electrical engineering. In September 2014, the state legislature made it possible for the community college system to award bachelor degrees. The move was aimed at providing more education to help high school graduates get the training required to enter a competitive job market. Read the full story here.

Telemedicine New Frontier in Health Care

Toronto Sun (October 20, 2016)

Telemedicine is a relative newcomer to the health-care industry but its prognosis is clear: it will soon be mainstream. Now, you can be among the first to complete a telemedicine facilitation certificate that will give you the skills needed to succeed in this emerging field. Read the full story here.

OB/GYN Residency Program Receives Accreditation

UCR Today (October 17, 2016)

The Obstetrics/Gynecology (OB/GYN) Residency Program in the School of Medicine at the University of California, Riverside has received accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, the national organization that accredits US medical residency and fellowship programs and the institutions that sponsor them. The program was accredited for a total of 16 residents. The first class of four residents will begin their training in July 2017. The four-year training program will enroll four residents each year, meaning there will be a total of 16 residents when the OB/GYN program is fully developed. Sponsored by the School of Medicine, the primary training site will be Riverside Community Hospital. Read the full story here.

5 Ways Nursing Graduate School Can Pay Off

U.S. News and World Report (September 22, 2016)

The number of jobs for nurses with graduate degrees is growing quickly, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, whose forecasts show that the number of jobs available for advanced practice nurses will be 31 percent higher in 2024 compared with 2014. The bureau's research also shows that the typical pay for advanced practice nurses in the U.S. hit the six-figure mark in 2015, reaching $104,740 per year. Read the full story here.

St. Louis to Deliver Healthcare at the Train Station

Next City (September 14, 2016)

North St. Louis County commuters will soon be able to get a checkup before boarding the train. A $940,000 grant from U.S. DOT will fund health screenings such as blood pressure and cholesterol tests at a MetroLink station, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Read the full story here.

UCSF Fresno Launches Two New Training Programs

University of California San Francisco (September 13, 2016)

UCSF Fresno recently launched two new training programs. The UCSF Fresno Hematology/Oncology Fellowship is an internal medicine program that launched in July with two fellows. The UCSF Fresno Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant (PA) Residency Program started in August with two residents joining the program this year. Read the full story here.

The 4 Forces that Will Reshape Nursing

Hospitals and Health Networks (September 8, 2016)

Do we have a nursing shortage in this country?

BUERHAUS: Not necessarily, although some states, like California and Colorado, are experiencing nurse retirement sooner than others. Since 2002, there has actually been unprecedented growth in the number of nurses being produced in the United States. But there is a knowledge shortage in nursing. Experienced nurses are retiring, so we have more people, but less long-term experience. We’ve been warning the industry for the past five to 10 years about getting nursing graduates’ knowledge up to speed to deal with the upcoming retirement of 1 million nurses over the next decade. Read the full story here.

RN to BSN programs benefit nurses and healthcare

Nurse.com (September 1, 2016)

Nursing and healthcare organizations, as well as hospitals and other employers, are calling for a more highly educated nursing workforce to meet the demands of the increasingly complex U.S. healthcare system. Read the full story here.

California Healthline (August 12, 2016)

From the outside, the Flying Eye Hospital could blend in with other aircraft at Moffett Federal Airfield. But the massive MD-10 jet, donated by FedEx, hides a state-of-the-art teaching center for ophthalmology -- medicine for the eyes. Repurposed by New York-based nonprofit Orbis International, the mobile hospital will rival the technology of top eye care centers on the ground when it sets off this fall to train doctors and nurses in areas of the world where underserved patients struggle with vision issues that could be solved with the right medical know-how. Read the full story here.

California gears up to track cancer in real time

Healthcare IT News (July 21, 2016)

California is overhauling the way it collects information for its massive cancer database in the hope of improving how patients are treated for the disease.

Pathologists at a dozen hospitals in the state are part of a pilot project — the first of its kind in the United States — in which they are reporting cancer diagnoses in close to real-time to the California Cancer Registry. And they are using standardized electronic forms to make their reporting more consistent and accurate. Read the full story here.

When Smaller Is Better?: ‘Microhospitals’ Are On The Rise

California Healthline (July 19, 2016)

Eyeing fast-growing urban and suburban markets where demand for health care services is outstripping supply, some health care systems are opening tiny, full-service hospitals with comprehensive emergency services but often fewer than a dozen inpatient beds. These “microhospitals” provide residents quicker access to emergency care, and they may also offer outpatient surgery, primary care and other services. They are generally affiliated with larger health care systems, which can use the smaller facility to expand in an area without incurring the cost of a full-scale hospital. Read the full story here.

Can for-profit medical schools fill the doctor gap?

CBS News (June 22, 2016)

For-profit medical schools are starting to pop up around the country, promising to create new family doctors for underserved rural regions.

Rural states like Idaho need more general practitioners, with the baby boom generation aging and expanded insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act making health care more accessible. But critics of the new schools question whether companies can properly train the nation's next crop of doctors. Read the full story here.

Western Sierra Medical Clinic gives hands-on training to nursing students

The Union (May 8, 2016)

Western Sierra Medical Clinic in Grass Valley has established a partnership with California State University, Sacramento and Sierra College to provide hands-on education and on-site training for nursing students.

The state university and community college’s nursing programs are rotating about 50 students this semester through Western Sierra Medical Clinic. Read the full story here.

Touro programs help take nurses to next level

Daily Republic (May 6, 2016)

The health care environment is changing rapidly and Touro University California School of Nursing is positioned to build on the skills of associate and bachelor’s degree registered nurses to meet the evolving health workforce needs.

The 12-month program for BSN students and the 18-month program for ADN students are highly accelerated and lead to a master of science in nursing. At the conclusion of the program, students are eligible for the California Board of Registered Nursing Public Health Nurse Certification and may sit for the national Clinical Nurse Leader certification examination. Read the full story here.

Sonoma Index Tribune (May 5, 2016)

Meghan O’Leary knew early on she wanted to go into the medical field. She spent much of her childhood caring for her mother, who O’Leary said suffered from severe liver cirrhosis and other health problems before she died last year.

“Since the age of 12, I was her primary caretaker,” she said.

Now an 18-year-old senior at Rancho Cotate High School, O’Leary is on the path to one day becoming a physician. She enrolled in the Health Careers Academy, a program launched in the fall to introduce high school juniors and seniors to careers in the health care field. Read the full story here.

Teaching Medical Students to Become Better Communicators Through Writing

Inside UCR (April 22, 2016)

“Many medical doctors have a difficult time communicating their thoughts through writing. This can lead to struggles in other types of communicating, such as with the patient or their team,” said Maegen Dupper, M.D., an assistant clinical professor at the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine. “At most medical schools, the first two years are spent on bookwork and memorization. But here at UCR we are integrating clinical critical thinking and clinical-style education from the first day of their medical training.” Read the full story here.

First New Dental School In New York State In Nearly Fifty Years To Open Fall 2016

Health News Digest (April 19, 2016)

New York State's first new dental school in nearly 50 years is set to open this fall, Alan Kadish, M.D., president of Touro College and University System (TCUS) announced today. Touro, one of the leading educators of health care professionals in New York State, received final state approval and will establish the Touro College of Dental Medicine at its New York Medical College (NYMC) campus in Valhalla, New York.

Touro College of Dental Medicine at New York Medical College joins the Touro School of Health Sciences, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (with campuses in Harlem and Middletown, NY), Touro College of Pharmacy, and New York Medical College in New York State. These institutions collectively graduate more than 2,000 health care professionals every year. Read the full story here.

New Online Courses Aim to Educate Physicians and Other Healthcare Professionals on Advance Care Planning

CSU Institute for Palliative Care (April 15, 2016)

In response to the nation’s growing demand for physicians trained in advance care planning conversations, the California State University Institute for Palliative Care partnered with the Coalition for Compassionate Care of California to co-design a comprehensive continuing education curriculum for healthcare professionals on advance care planning.

Starting in 2016, healthcare providers can be reimbursed for advance care planning conversations with Medicare beneficiaries. The newly implemented reimbursement provides an impetus for clinicians (physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants) to spend time exploring patient healthcare preferences and documenting goals of care. A newly released survey of physicians by the John A. Hartford Foundation, California Health Care Foundation and Cambia Health Foundation found that fewer than one-third of those surveyed reported “having had any formal training specifically on talking with patients and their families about end-of-life care” Read the full story here.

Classes to begin next month at new nursing school in Rancho Cordova

Sacramento Bee (April 7, 2016)

Citing studies showing a need for more nurses at medical facilities throughout California, Illinois-based Chamberlain College of Nursing said Thursday that classes will open next month at its first Golden State campus in Rancho Cordova.

Officials said spring semester classes will begin May 2 in nearly 30,000 square feet of space in an existing building at 10971 Sun Center Drive. Read the full story here.

The Health Care Industry Added a Ton of Jobs Last Month

Money (March 4, 2016)

The economy added 242,000 jobs in February, 38,100 of which were in health care, according to the better-than-expected February jobs report.

The unemployment rate held at 4.9% in February, and the private sector has enjoyed 72 months of straight job gains. Wages fell 0.1% last month after increasing 0.5% in January.

The health care industry is faring especially well, adding over 480,000 jobs since last year. The category is now on pace to become largest job sector in the U.S. in the next three years, according to POLITICO's Dan Diamond. Last month, hospitals added 10,600 jobs, physicians' offices added 7,500 jobs, and home healthcare added 7,100 jobs. Rising employment makes sense as Baby Boomers get older. Read the full story here.

Top Health Care Trends for 2016

KUSI News (March 1, 2016)

With the health care industry undergoing some of the most dramatic changes in history, there is little doubt that 2016 will offer up a host of new opportunities and challenges for patients, physicians and health systems. Read the full story here.

Greenbrier Students with Interest in Medical Field Have Great Opportunity

The Cabin (February 6, 2016)

Every summer high school students in Arkansas have put on surgical scrubs or lab coats at Area Health Education Centers (AHECs), the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), and community hospitals in order to learn more about health careers. The Medical Application of Science for Health program, or M*A*S*H, has exposed high school students to the many careers available in the fields of medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, and allied health. Read the full story here.

New Medical School in Elk Grove Makes History

The Sacramento Bee (February 6, 2016)

Amie Cai, 25, took a year off after she graduated from UC Berkeley to work as a laboratory manager and apply to medical school. She didn’t get in. Anywhere.

Cai, who grew up in Folsom, decided to get more experience. She “shadowed” Dr. Kenan Si at a walk-in clinic on J Street in Sacramento where she could talk to patients in Chinese.

When a new medical school in Elk Grove opened for business last year, Cai jumped at the opportunity. So did 59 other students in the inaugural class at California Northstate University College of Medicine. Read the full story here.

Medical education initiative launches at UM

KPAX (February 5, 2016)

We keeping hearing that health and medicine are growing job markets.

Now, a new initiative at the University of Montana looks to target those sectors, making it easier for students seeking education and work in medical science through what school officials are calling the University of Montana Health and Medicine Initiative. Read the full story here.

The U.S. Is Running Out of Nurses

The Atlantic (February 3, 2016)

Five years ago, my mother was rushed to the hospital for an aneurysm. For the next two weeks, my family and I sat huddled around her bed in the intensive-care unit, oscillating between panic, fear, uncertainty, and exhaustion.

It was nurses that got us through that time with our sanity intact. Nurses checked on my mother—and us—multiple times an hour. They ran tests, updated charts, and changed IVs; they made us laugh, allayed our concerns, and thought about our comfort. The doctors came in every now and then, but the calm dedication of the nurses was what kept us together. Without them, we would have fallen apart. Read the full story here.

Physician Assistant Pay Reaches $100K Annually

Forbes (January 29, 2016)

Physician assistant compensation is nearly $100,000 on average across the U.S. amid a nationwide shortage of doctors that are needed to treat millions of newly insured Americans.

A new state-by-state statistical profile of the profession from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants said the median PA salary was $95,000 for 2014, the most recent year such information was tallied for this year’s new profile. Read the full story here.

Building A Better Nurse: UCD Nursing School Opens New Program

Davis Enterprise (January 3, 2016)

Applications have opened for a new nursing program at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis. For the first time, UCD offers a degree program that prepares new nurses. Read the full story here.

The Sacramento Bee (December 28, 2015)

Five years ago, a nationwide call went out: Hire more nurses with four-year college degrees.

Today, with hiring improving as more nurses hit retirement age, and as medical care grows more complex, there’s added urgency in boosting the number of highly trained nurses. In fact, in its 2010 report on the future of nursing, the Institute of Medicine set a goal: By 2020, 80 percent of U.S. nurses should hold four-year baccalaureate degrees. Read the full story here.

The Sacramento Bee (December 24, 2015)

Kaiser Permanente recently announced plans to open a medical school in 2019. Kaiser’s move into medical education has the potential to transform the way doctors are trained in an evolving health care landscape.

The modern medical curriculum was developed in 1910 after the publication of the Flexner Report – an independent review that found nearly all U.S. medical schools lacked rigor. While the changes introduced were revolutionary for their time, the approach to medical education has undergone little change in the subsequent 100-plus years. Read the full story here.

Health Reform May Change Workers’ Roles

California Healthline (December 14, 2015)

There will be new job opportunities in California because of the Affordable Care Act, but likely more of a shift in the nature of those jobs and not necessarily an increase in the number of them, according to a new study released last week by researchers at UC-San Francisco. Read the full story here.

Samuel Merritt University Launches New Online Degree Program for Case Managers

PR Web (November 27, 2015)

Samuel Merritt University’s School of Nursing, one of California’s largest and most prestigious nursing-education institutions, will launch a new online degree program for case managers, who now rank among the highest in-demand professionals in healthcare. Read the full story here.

Prescription for a new career: Medical writing

San Diego Union Tribune (November 24, 2015)

It seems every day a new life-altering scientific breakthrough makes headlines. But behind every breakthrough is the need to communicate that discovery with a wide variety of audiences from founders of scientific grants to peer-reviewed publications to regulatory agencies. Read the full story here.me

A win-win: home health aide training program creates better care for patients, better jobs for workers

Brookings Institute (November 10, 2015)

One of the implications of the U.S.’s aging population is increasing demand for long-term care. Occupations such as personal care aides, nursing assistants, and home health aides all have strong projected job growth. And yet, although these direct care positions are foundational to providing high-quality services to the elderly and people with disabilities, they typically pay low wages, do not require much education and training, and experience high turnover. Read the full story here.

California’s Pressing Need for Latino and Black Nurses

KQED (November 5, 2015)

Samuel Merritt’s chief diversity officer, Shirley Strong, hopes to address prospective students. The Oakland-based university is one of the three biggest programs for registered nursing students in California and is committed to reducing health disparities by recruiting more students of color. Read the full story here.

Clovis pathway program helps students get to health care careers

The Fresno Bee (October 30, 2015)

Clovis Community College is offering six new programs to students interested in health-care careers. With a $50,000 grant from the California State University system’s Linked Learning to Baccalaureate program, pathway programs are now in effect for pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-optometry, pre-physician assistant, pre-veterinary and pre-pharmacy careers. Read the full story here.

Local Public Health a Career Path for Medical Students

U.S. News &amp; World Report (October 21, 2015)

Public health touches all parts of life, exemplified by the Ebola outbreak and in Baltimore with the swift response and coordination of resources to dispense life-sustaining medications in the unrest following the death of Freddie Gray?. Public health is responsible for the inspections and reporting which lead to restaurant health scores, as well as the identification of food-borne illnesses such as E.coli in hamburger. Public health is fundamental to the population's health no matter who you are or where you live. Read the full story here.

Opinion: Obamacare a job killer? Not likely

Chicago Sun Times (October 13, 2015)

At that time, with the national unemployment rate above 9 percent and the economy still struggling to recover after the Great Recession, this was a particularly worrisome concern. But five years later, though the unemployment rate now is around 5 percent, that argument still is being made.

At the Republican presidential candidate debate in August, for example, Jeb Bush said our nation should “get rid of Obamacare and replace it with something that doesn’t suppress wages and kill jobs.” Read the full story here.

Hospitals still lead in healthcare job growth

Modern Healthcare (October 2, 2015)

The healthcare sector added 34,400 jobs in September, making up almost a quarter of new jobs in the U.S. for the month. Hospital hires led the healthcare sector, adding 15,500 for the month. Hospitals have created over 117,000 jobs in the first nine months of this year alone. Read the full story here.

LA Health Administrator Helps Prepare The Future Work Force

CBS Los Angeles (September 25, 2015)

Jim Sherman is a part-time faculty member at California State University Northridge (CSUN). He has been teaching part-time at CSUN for the past 25 years. Sherman teaches healthadministration courses to both graduate and undergraduate students. He graduated from CSUN with the goal of becoming a hospital CEO. However, by fluke, Sherman’s first few jobs involved healthcare finance, a subject that he did not enjoy in school. However, once working, he found he enjoyed finance. When Sherman was out in the work force, finance made sense. He realized that he needed to give back to his alma mater and help prepare the work force of the future. Read the full story here.

California Healthline (September 3, 2015)

University of Southern California researchers launched a pilot program in east San Fernando Valley to raise awareness among Latinos about how to recognize serious mental illness. The program, called La CLAVE, aims to reduce the time it takes for individuals with psychosis to seek and find treatment. Read the full story here.

Achieving Mental Health Parity: Slow Going Even In 'Pace Car' State Of California

ChicoER (August 29, 2015)

After the state of California fined her employer $4 million in 2013 for violating the legal rights of mental health patients, Oakland psychologist Melinda Ginne expected her job -- and her patients' lives -- to get better. Instead, she said, things got worse. Read the full story here.

The Rise in Retail Clinics Means More Jobs for NPs

Health eCareers (August 26, 2015)

Since 2006, there has been a movement afoot in U.S. healthcare that's impossible to ignore. Across the country, in pharmacy chains like CVS and Walgreens and big-box retailers like Target and Walmart, convenient care clinics (also known as retail clinics) are opening up in greater numbers. About 1,800 such clinics are currently in operation, which represents an amazing 900 percent growth since 2006. And it’s estimated that by 2016, about 3,000 retail clinics will be up and running. Read the full story here.

California Job Additions in July Were the Best of 2015

San Gabriel Valley Tribune (August 21, 2015)

California employers added 80,600 jobs last month in the biggest monthly hiring burst this year and the region’s jobless rate dipped to 6.2 percent, the state Employment Development Department reported Friday. Read the full story here.

Proposed Student Loan Repayment Plan Would Extend the Same Income-Based Terms to All Federal Loan Borrowers

Center for American Progress (August 18, 2015)

Income-based loan repayment has a long and dizzying history as a policy solution for student borrowers. During recent years, changes to old repayment plans and the creation of new ones have expanded generous income-based repayment options to a growing number of borrowers. But, until now, the most generous terms—a monthly payment based on 10 percent of discretionary income and loan forgiveness after 20 years of payment—were only available to recent borrowers, leaving older borrowers stuck with less favorable terms. However, all of that changes under the proposed Revised Pay As You Earn, or REPAYE, repayment plan, which extends the same generous terms to all federal student loan borrowers. Read the full story here.

Clinton Meets With Home Care Workers

California Healthline (August 7, 2015)

Members of California's service workers' union met with presidential candidate and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Los Angeles to talk about long-term care issues. A succession of home health caregivers and some recipients of that care told their stories to Clinton and they spoke generally about the changes needed in home care. Read the full story here.

20 Best Workplaces in Health Care

Fortune Magazine (July 28, 2015)

The health care sector is booming—and has an abundance of well-paying and rewarding jobs. These companies have perfected balancing demanding, round-the-clock work with fun and caring cultures. Read the full story here.

O.C. Register (July 25, 2015)

California Health Care Jobs Increased in May

California Healthline (June 22, 2015)

Health care services was one of the five sectors that saw job growth in California in May, according to data released by the California Employment Development Department. Overall, the state's unemployment rate increased slightly from 6.3% in April to 6.4% in May. Read the full story here.

California Healthline (June 22, 2015)

A study by UC-San Francisco researchers finds that at least 2.5 million new long-term care workers will be needed in the U.S. by 2030. The increase in demand for long-term care services will be driven by the country's aging population, according to the study. Joanne Spetz, associate director for research strategy at the UCSF Center for the Health Professions, said, "Filling these jobs will be a big challenge under any scenario." The researchers suggest that states invest more resources in education and training for such positions. Read the full story here.

California On Cusp Of Offering Young Immigrants Health Care

ABC 7 (June 19, 2015)

When Christopher Sumano was recently sick, he says doctors turned him away because he didn't have access to Medi-Cal, the state's health care program for the poor.

If Gov. Jerry Brown signs the new budget passed by California's Legislature, undocumented immigrant children like Sumano will have access to Medi-Cal subsidies starting in May 2016. Read the full story here.

Supes Vote to Lift Home Health Care Workers From Poverty

Monrovia Patch (June 16, 2015)

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors agreed Tuesday to boost the wages of more than 140,000 home health-care workers.

The board voted 4-1 to approve a motion by Supervisors Mark Ridley- Thomas and Hilda Solis instructing county administrators to allocate $11.9 million in the 2015-16 Department of Public Social Services budget to raise wages of home health-care workers from their existing $9.65-an-hour salaries to $11 effective Jan. 1, 2016. Read the full story here.

California Expands Bachelor's Degree Programs at Community Colleges

U.S. News and World Report (May 27, 2015)

California added three new bachelor's degree programs to be offered at community colleges throughout the state. This raises the total number of four-year degree programs to be provided at the state's community colleges to 15. Read the full story here.

California Awards $250M To High School Career Prep Programs

CBS Los Angeles (May 27, 2015)

California is betting big — $1.4 billion over five years — that connecting high school studies to specific careers will get more students to graduate, go on to college and find well-paying jobs.

In the latest incarnation of vocational education programs that once prepared young people for skilled trades, the state distributed nearly $250 million in grants Wednesday to dozens of so-called “career pathways” — programs that combine academic and technical coursework at the high school and community college level with hands-on training and work experience supplied by employers. Read the full story here.

Wearable M.D.: How Fitness Trackers Can Change Healthcare

PC Magazine (May 11, 2015)

What if you could buy an over-the-counter genome testing kit, just as you can buy a pregnancy test today, then take it home and know within a matter of minutes whether you're at risk for cardiac arrest? What if, as a result of taking that test, your doctor prescribed a regimen of diet, exercise, and stress reduction, monitored by your Internet-connected refrigerator, sensor-laden workout clothes, and an fMRI headband that dimmed the lights when it noticed increased brain activity associated with stress? What if you could upload a copy of your brain to a hard drive so that doctors could reinstall your memories if a disease or accident wiped them out? Read the full story here.

PR Newswire (May 11, 2015)

"We Care for California," a broad coalition of doctors, nurses, hospitals, workers, and other healthcare leaders, launched a statewide paid media campaign today calling on the State of California to fully fund Medi-Cal to bring payments to providers in line with the rates paid by Medicare. Read the full story here.

The Reporter (May 5, 2015)

For people of a certain age, having a school nurse on campus during class hours was a given. But in Vacaville Unified and other California school districts — and in many other states — the assignment of a school nurse at each campus is downright rare in 2015. School nurses today are often assigned to two or more school sites, visiting each campus on alternating days or, in many cases, every three or four days. Read the full story here.

Jobs, education, healthcare discussed at luncheon in Pomona

Daily Bulletin (April 17, 2015)

Issues ranging from job opportunities to health services were among the questions elected officials representing Pomona a the county, state and federal level fielded Friday during the 2015 Pomona Chamber of Commerce Legislative Luncheon. Read the full story here.

California, UC Form Partnership For 'Precision Medicine’ Project

SF Gate (April 14, 2015)

Gov. Jerry Brown and the University of California announced a new “precision medicine” initiative Tuesday that commits $3 million to a statewide project to compile existing patient data and use it to tailor drug therapies and other treatments to individuals’ specific needs. Read the full story here.

California Launches Initiative to Advance Precision Medicine

University of California San Francisco (April 14, 2015)

Gov. Jerry Brown is launching a statewide initiative with the University of California, to advance the field of precision medicine. The effort will involve collaborating with other academic and industry partners and starting to build the infrastructure and assemble the resources necessary to further develop the field. Read the full story here.

CSU Stanislaus Nursing Program Highly Ranked Among Western Schools

Turlock City News (April 10, 2015)

California State University, Stanislaus was recently ranked 26th out of 442 nursing schools in “America’s Best Nursing School - West Region” list published by NurseJournal.org. Read the full story here.

Sacramento Bee (April 7, 2015)

Continuing California’s reputation as a pacesetter on immigration, state lawmakers unveiled a package of bills Tuesday that would expand the rights of people who are in the country illegally.

Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León, D-Los Angeles, and Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, contrasted their actions with the political intransigence in Washington, D.C., where the two major parties have been at loggerheads over comprehensive solutions. Read the full story here.

Apply to Medical School With an Undergraduate Nursing Degree

U.S. News and World Report (March 24, 2015)

I have been asked if someone with an undergraduate degree in nursing can apply and attend medical school. The answer is, "yes." ?Nurses can go to medical school. According to the American Association of Medical Colleges, 1,034? applicants with undergraduate degrees in nursing applied to medical school between 2010 and 2014, and 319 nurses have matriculated. Read the full story here.

State, Southern California post healthy job gains

San Gabriel Valley Tribune (March 20, 2015)

Jobs were added throughout California last month and unemployment rates continued to fall, according to reports released Friday by the state Employment Development Department.

California employers added 29,400 jobs in February and the state’s unemployment rate dropped to 6.7??percent, its lowest level since April 2008. February’s rate was down from 7??percent in January and 8??percent a year earlier. Read the full story here.

Sacramento Bee (March 17, 2015)

California’s community college leaders signed agreements Tuesday that pave the way for students to transfer to nine historically black colleges, the first such arrangements with schools outside the state. Read the full story here.

Report: Job Prospects Better for California College Grads

Public News Service (March 15, 2015)

More than half of the online job postings in California are for positions that require at least a four-year college degree – and a new report says it matters a lot what type of degree. Read the full story here.

Nursing 2.0: Improving Care Through Technology

California Healthcare Foundation (March 15, 2015)

Emerging technologies are revolutionizing nursing. First in a series, this case study on laser imaging for wound care examines how nurses are embracing new ways to provide care. Read the full story here.

Obtain Your California State License (Infographic)

Aureus Medical Group (March 1, 2015)

Nurses are in high demand in California, but the state’s daunting licensing process can turn off travel nurses from taking an assignment. Don’t let that stand in your way any longer! View our infographic for simple directions on how to obtain your California state license. Read the full story here.

Report: Southern Calif. Health Care Industry Likely To See Job Growth

California Healthline (February 19, 2015)

In the coming years, the health care industry in Southern California is likely to see large gains in job growth, according to a report released Wednesday by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation's Kyser Center for Economic Research, the San Gabriel Valley Tribune reports. Read the full story here.

What Obama's 2016 Budget Proposal Means for Student Borrowers

US News and World Report (February 11, 2015)

According to the 2016 budget, the president wants to "reform and streamline income-driven repayment to ensure that program benefits are targeted to the neediest borrowers and to safeguard the program for the future." Under his proposal, a modified Pay As You Earn plan would be the only income-driven repayment plan for borrowers who originate their first loan on or after July 1, 2016. Read the full story here.

California Healthline (February 2, 2015)

Researchers at UCLA last week released a report examining five California community clinics that have taken initial steps to incorporate mental health care into the primary care setting. Read the full story here.

Calif. Lawmakers Plan To Stem Overuse of Psychiatric Drugs

California Healthline (February 2, 2015)

Several California lawmakers this year plan to introduce legislation to curb the overuse of psychiatric drugs among children in the state's foster care system, San Jose Mercury News/Inside Bay Area reports. Read the full story here.

Using telemedicine to reverse the decline of community hospitals: 5 thoughts

Becker's Hospital Review (February 2, 2015)

With community and rural hospitals closing at an alarming rate, access to care has become a major challenge for people with serious conditions who don't live in urban areas, according to a report from the Harvard Business Review.

Many patients living in rural areas with serious health problems end up having to travel considerable distances to urban centers to see a medical specialist, further declining revenues at rural hospitals and clinics. As a result, rural hospitals and clinics downsize even more or close altogether, further limiting patients' options. Read the full story here.

The Atlantic Philanthropies and The California Endowment Commit $12.2 Million for Healthcare Career Pathways In Oakland Unified School District

PR Newswire (January 22, 2015)

The Atlantic Philanthropies and The California Endowment today announced $12.2 million in grants to the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) and Alameda Health Care Services Agency (HCSA) to support and expand health career pathways in Oakland, with the goal of improving academic and long-term employment outcomes. Read the full story here.

Draft Plan Emerges To Reduce Disparities in Mental Health Care

California Healthline (January 14, 2015)

The California Department of Public Health this week released a draft of its strategic plan to cut down on the disparities in mental health care for minorities and other groups. Read the full story here.

'Game changer': 4-year degrees from some California 2-year colleges

Los Angeles Times (December 21, 2014)

Steve Crawford recently graduated from the mortuary science program at Cypress College in Orange County. If he passes state tests, he could get a job in a coroner's office, which was once his dream job. Read the full story here.

L.A. County Approves Plan To Hire Nearly 200 More Employees To Help Residents With Mental Illnesses

California Healthline (December 17, 2014)

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has decided to hire nearly 200 new staff members to help residents with mental illnesses access mental health and medical services -- doubling the current number of such employees in the county. Read the full story here.

Study: Virtual Visits Could Significantly Cut U.S. Health Care Costs

California Healthline (December 16, 2014)

Virtual health care visits are associated with lower costs than traditional in-office visits and could result in Medicare savings, according to a study released Friday by the Alliance for Connected Care, Modern Healthcare reports. Read the full story here.

New State Law Allows Community Colleges To Offer Four-Year Degrees

California Healthline (December 16, 2014)

A new state law due to take effect Jan. 1, 2015, creates a pilot program under which 15 California community colleges can offer four-year degrees as long as they do not duplicate the fields of study offered by the University of California or California State Universities. Read the full story here.

Report: Calif.'s Health Care Sector To Add Nearly 500K Jobs by 2020

California Healthline (December 4, 2014)

The number of health care services and social assistance jobs in California is expected to increase by 3.6% annually between 2013 and 2020, according to an economic forecast by Chapman University's A. Gary Anderson Center for Economic Research, the Los Angeles Times reports. Read the full story here.

California medical leaders join to boost health insurance enrollment

89.3 KPCC (December 2, 2014)

The California Medical Association and leaders of 13 health care provider groups announced Tuesday they're embarking on a campaign to educate Californians about affordable health insurance available during the Affordable Care Act's current open enrollment season. Read the full story here.

Consumers Can Enroll In Covered California Starting Tomorrow

Covered California (November 14, 2014)

Open enrollment for affordable health insurance under the Affordable Care Act officially begins Saturday, Nov. 15, Covered California announced. Consumers need to enroll by Dec. 15 in order to have health insurance coverage starting on Jan. 1. Read the full story here.

California Healthline (November 13, 2014)

On Wednesday, Los Angeles County supervisors approved $40.9 million in state funding to be used for three new 24-hour psychiatric urgent care centers. Law enforcement officers will be able to bring individuals with mental health problems to the facilities instead of emergency departments or jails. Read the full story here.

FAQ: What you need to know about health insurance open enrollment

89.3 KPCC (November 12, 2014)

The more than 150 million Americans with job-based health insurance should have an eye out for their workplace "open enrollment" period – that annual opportunity to review their policy and to make changes to their coverage for the following year. Read the full story here.

Telehealth Program Going Mobile

California Healthline (October 27. 2014)

Dignity Health, formerly Catholic Healthcare West, has been using robots in emergency departments and intensive care units in about 20 California hospitals for more than five years. Now, the hospital chain is hoping to broaden its telehealth capabilities through a new collaboration with a Texas company specializing in mobile health technology. Read the full story here.

California Healthline (October 10, 2014)

On Thursday, primary care providers outlined several new approaches to transform the way specialty care can be expanded to areas that need it. That includes a pilot project started earlier this year at Open Door Community Health Centers, a collection of federally qualified health centers in Humboldt and Del Norte counties. Read the full story here.

Report: 56,500 Jobs To Be Added in Calif.'s Health Care Sector in 2015

California Healthline (October 8, 2014)

California is expected to add 56,500 jobs in the health care and social assistance sector next year, according to a report by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, the San Gabriel Valley Tribune reports. Read the full story here.

15 Calif. community colleges to offer bachelor degrees

USA Today (October 8, 2014)

Alyssa Banuelos, a nursing student at West Coast University in Orange County, Calif., knew she wanted to go into the medical field at a young age. “It’s just something that I felt like I needed to do,” she says. “To help people and assist in healing, that’s my calling.” Read the full story here.

California Economic Summit (September 25, 2014)

California is facing a healthcare crisis, but it may not be what many think. And, if you’re interested in a career in healthcare, the news is good. In the next decade, the state will need nearly 450,000 more workers in all areas of healthcare – from lab technicians to dental hygienists to medical support positions. Read the full story here.

Need for Allied Health Workers in Calif. To Grow Over Next Decade

California Healthline (September 19, 2014)

Of the nearly 450,000 new health care workers expected to be needed in California over the next 10 years, about 40% will not be required to have a bachelor's degree, according to a report released Thursday by the Public Policy Institute of California, the Central Valley Business Times reports. Read the full story here.

Where the jobs will be: Non-degreed health workers

Central Valley Business Times (September 18, 2014)

Over the next decade, California is expected to need nearly 450,000 new health care workers — due in part to expanded coverage under the Affordable Care Act but mainly to the growth and aging of the state's population, according to research from the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California. Read the full story here.

California Healthline (September 5, 2014)

Preventive care outreach programs in unorthodox settings are successful in getting underserved and minority communities screened for health conditions, such as breast and colorectal cancers, according to a study conducted by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. Read the full story here.

California Healthline (September 2, 2014)

Prospective nurses in California are facing a classic enigma: how to find a job requiring experience if you can't get hired to gain the experience. As a result, an excess of nursing graduates in California cannot find jobs, even though employers are declaring a shortage of recruits. Read the full story here.

The 10 Fastest-Growing Jobs In America

Huffington Post (September 1, 2014)

After the recession wiped out millions of jobs, the American labor market has at least partially recovered. So far this year, the United States has added roughly 1.6 million jobs. And in the 10 years through 2022, the BLS estimates that employment will grow by over 15 million jobs, or by 11 percent. Read the full story here.

Calif. Aims To Address Education Gap in Health Care, Other Fields

California Healthline (August 29, 2014)

As part of a wider workforce trend, more California health care systems are looking to hire nurses and other workers who have obtained bachelor's degrees, the Sacramento Bee reports. However, more than half of new nurses in the state currently graduate with two-year associate's degrees. Read the full story here.

UC Davis is Trailblazer in Three-Year Medical School Model

Capital Public Radio (July 28, 2014)

A handful of UC Davis students are trailblazers in a new medical school model that has won the approval of Californian Governor Jerry Brown. Brown signed legislation that will allow doctors to practice with three years of medical school instead of four. Read the full story here.

California Healthline (July 25, 2014)

More than 50% of U.S. residents believe their lives or the lives of people they know have been improved by the Affordable Care Act, according to a CNN poll released Wednesday. Read the full story here.

Health care jobs lift less-educated workers

USA Today (July 24, 2014)

The boom in health care jobs is skewed toward positions requiring less education, providing lower-paid workers a potential pathway to better careers, a new Brookings Institution report says. Read the full story here.

Health care jobs lift less-educated workers

USA Today (July 24, 2014)

The boom in health care jobs is skewed toward positions requiring less education, providing lower-paid workers a potential pathway to better careers, a new Brookings Institution report says. Read the full story here.

Study: 10.3M U.S. Residents Have Gained Coverage Since Fall 2013

California Healthline (July 24, 2014)

About 10.3 million U.S. residents have gained health coverage since the fall 2013 launch of the initial open enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act's insurance exchanges, according to a study published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine, Reuters reports. Read the full story here.

Calif. Uninsured Rate Falls to 11% After Exchange Open Enrollment

California Healthline (July 11, 2014)

The uninsured rate in California has been cut in half after the first open enrollment period for the state's health insurance exchange, according to a new Commonwealth Fund survey, the Los Angeles Times reports. Read the full story here.

HHS Announces $100M in Grants for New Health Centers

California Healthline (July 9, 2014)

On Tuesday, HHS announced that it will provide $100 million in grants under the Affordable Care Act for new health care centers nationwide to expand and boost access to care in underserved and vulnerable communities. Public and not-for-profit health centers -- in addition to Native American, community- and faith-based organizations -- will be eligible to seek grants of up to $650,000. Read the full story here.

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Announced Second Round of Funding

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (June 26, 2014)

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a second round of funding, up to $730 million, under the State Innovation Models initiative. This is an additional opportunity made possible by the Affordable Care Act that offers states and innovators tools and flexibility to transform health care. Read the full story here.

Health News Digest (June 16, 2014)

According to a new report of its first quarter recruiting data, HEALTHeCAREERS, the leading healthcare recruitment website, witnessed a 16 percent increase in the total number of jobs posted year-over-year with strong growth among non-physician roles. Read the full story here.

Fast Growing Hospital Jobs

Healthleaders Media (June 16, 2014)

As healthcare continues to transform, the jobs within hospitals and health systems also continue to change. Recruiters who understand these changes are best equipped to compete to hire workers. Read the full story here.

State Lawmakers Want To Overhaul Mental Health Programs

California Healthline (June 11, 2014)

In a California Healthline report by Deirdre Kennedy, experts discussed new approaches to mental health issues in the wake of the Isla Vista shooting incident -- from a recent legislative proposal targeted at offenders to local efforts to better coordinate care for the mentally ill. Read the full story here.

Unfair Background Checks in California’s Health Care Jobs

National Employment Law Project (June 3, 2014)

New, Private Inland Empire Medical School Could Open in 2016

California Healthline (May 29, 2014)

Plans for a new medical school in the Inland Empire have been largely met with praise from local officials eager for more doctors in the region. However, there is some uncertainty about the ambitious timeline for opening the new school. Read the full story here.

New Changes to the HPSA Process Affect When Surveys and Applications Are Due

Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (May 21, 2014)

The Federal Shortage Designation Branch (SDB) has recently implemented changes to the HPSA process that will affect when surveys and applications are due. The Federal SDB has requested the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) to develop a renewal process based on a bi-annual cycle. Read the full story here.

The Updated HPSA Renewal and New Application Cycle Has Been Released

Office of Statewide Health Planning &amp; Development (May 21, 2014)

The Shortage Designation Program (SDP) has streamlined the HPSA renewal and new application processes. Please visit the SDP website for further details and the HPSA renewal list. Read the full story here.

Shortage Designation Program Will Offer Mini-Workshops on Health Professional Shortage Areas and Medically Underserved Areas/Populations

Office of Statewide Health Planning &amp; Development (May 21, 2014)

The Shortage Designation Program (SDP) will offer Mini-workshops on Health Professional Shortage Areas & Medically Underserved Areas/Populations throughout California. These workshops will give you the opportunity to gain valuable insight into the process. You will learn about the different types of designations and find out which one is best for you. The workshop locations will be posted to our website when confirmed. Read the full story here.

More Jobs for Health Care Workers in the US This Year

Financial Buzz (June 16, 2014)

There were approximately 217,000 jobs that US employers generated for the people of America in the month of May. This is a significant number has made people hopeful of the better times to come with the economy strengthening. Read the full story here.

Since Obamacare Passed 50 Months Ago, Healthcare Has Gained Almost 1 Million Jobs

Forbes (June 6, 2014)

Obamacare was once called “The Job-Killing Health Care Law.” But the latest jobs report suggests that the broader economy—and the health care sector, specifically—is adding jobs at a healthy rate. Read the full story here.

US health care workers lead May job gains

The Washington Post (June 6, 2014)

Health care workers might have received a hiring bump from President Barack Obama’s health care law.

Their ranks grew by 54,900 in May, the Labor Department said Friday. That unusual surge helped drive last month’s overall job growth of 217,000, even as the unemployment rate remained 6.3 percent. Read the full story here.

Brown Encourages Training More Health Care Workers

Capital Public Radio (November 5, 2013)

Gov. Jerry Brown voices his support for educational programs that seek to get more people trained in health care. “During a discussion on CSU’s Institute for Palliative Care, Brown said redefining which caregivers take care of which patients, and how they do it could save a lot of money. ‘I would like to get our health department, in some way, connected to this,’ Brown said. ‘Because this is part of a larger redefinition of health care that will be absolutely crucial as we embrace more and more people and everybody gets older.” Read the full story here.

Forbes (November 4, 2013)

“Though a physician shortage appears inevitable as more Americans get health coverage under the Affordable Care Act, new research indicates new primary care models using nurse practitioners and physician assistants could eliminate the scarcity of primary-care doctors. Researchers at the nonprofit research organization RAND Corp. say an expansion of patient-centered medical homes and ‘nurse-managed’ health centers ‘could help eliminate 50 percent or more of the primary care physician shortage’ in the U.S. by 2025.” Read the full story here.

Linking students with industry

The Desert Sun (November 3, 2013)

Sheila Thornton, the vice president of workforce excellence for the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership, led the development of the region’s Healthcare Industry Council which aligns economic development and education strategies to prepare a quality health care workforce for the future. “The council has expanded the opportunities for disadvantaged students to succeed in kindergarten-12th grade health career pathways programs, college health sciences programs and higher level health professions.” Read the full story here.

Oakland Unified launches push to expand linked academies

EdSource (October 30, 2013)

Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) has big plans to expand the number of linked learning academies it offers. Linked learning academies, like Life Academy of Health and Bioscience in East Oakland, are programs that integrate academics with internships and job shadowing to provide real-world work experiences for. Gary Yee, the new acting superintendent of OUSD, set a goal to get 80 percent of the district’s 10th through 12th grade students into such programs by 2016. Currently, the academies serve about 2,800 students or 42 percent of the Oakland’s high school students in 10th, 11th and 12th grade. Read the full story here.

Racial, Ethnic Health Disparities Remain in Calif., Report Finds

California Healthline (October 10, 2013)

While the quality of health care in California has improved in recent years, "significant racial and ethnic disparities persist," according to a California HealthCare Foundation report. For example, the study found that in 2011: 19.8% of African-Americans in California had asthma before or during pregnancy, compared with 11.8% of whites and 6% of Latinos and Asian-Americans.

California Weighs Policy Changes to Address Provider Shortage

California Healthline (October 9, 2013)

“Two-thirds of California regions already fall short of the federally recommended primary care doctor supply. As the Affordable Care Act is implemented and more Californians gain insurance, the burden on the state's primary care providers will increase. In a California Healthline report by Rachel Dornhelm, experts discussed legislative efforts to address the state's provider shortage.” Read the full story here.

UC Davis Health System

A new report from the UC Davis Institute for Population Health Improvement (IPHI) touts the benefits of testing a new model for community-based health care that increases the role of paramedics—what IPHI calls Community Paramedicine. “Expanding the role of paramedics is a very promising model of community-based care that uses existing health-care workers in new and innovative ways,” said Kenneth W. Kizer, Director of IPHI. Paramedicine could help fill crucial gaps for health care access in many communities throughout California. Read the full story

California looks for a new generation of culturally sensitive health care workers

Modesto Bee (August 11, 2013)

Facing a surge of newly insured patients coming under the Affordable Care Act, and a primary care workforce that’s expected to lose 30% of its capacity to retirement in the next few years, California must focus on fostering a new generation of diverse and culturally sensitive health care workers. Even professional organizations are starting to get involved, like the California Academy of Family Physicians, which started a program called Futures Faces of Family Medicine aimed at recruiting low-income and underrepresented youth into the medical profession. Read the full story here.